(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) signed on as an original
cosponsor of the “Respect for Marriage Act of 2011,” which would repeal the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and provide certainty with regard to Federal
benefits and obligations for legally married couples.
“I
am proud to stand with Senator Feinstein and others as we fight to end this
fourteen-year-old policy and make sure all married couples are treated equally
in the eyes of the federal government,” said Senator Patty Murray. “I
strongly supported President Obama’s decision to stop defending DOMA in court.
And now it’s time that we take another step forward and fully repeal this law.”
By
repealing DOMA, the “Respect for Marriage Act” would make sure that
Federal laws apply to all valid marriages. Nothing in the bill would require a
State to recognize a marriage from another State; nor would anything in the
bill obligate any person, religious organization, State, or locality to perform
a marriage between two persons of the same sex.
English 
Spanish